Sunday, April 1, 2012

LON CHANEY: Union Man

Remembering Lon Chaney on the anniversary of his birth, April 1, 1883.

Chaney and his famous make-up box.

A personal hero of mine, both artistically and professionally.

Lon Chaney, pre-Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, was a staunch unionist, proud of his membership in the Theatrical Stage Employees union in the early 20th Century. After his star rose, and he could develop large projects that propelled him to even greater stardom (in roles like Quasimodo and The Phantom for Universal Pictures) he continued to look-out for his fellow actors. Like James Cagney in a later generation, he would often end a work day with a lot of actors on the call sheet before all was shot, knowing full-well they'd get to be employed one more day, or more.

Chaney passed away, of throat cancer, on August 26th, 1930. At the height of stardom with MGM, he was only 47-years-old.

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About Mark Redfield

is an American actor and filmmaker.
AN ACTOR'S NOTEBOOK is part diary, part investigation and part celebration on the art and craft of acting. Redfield's feature film credits include: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER (Justin Gatewood), DARK AND STORMY NIGHT (Farper Twyly), THE DEATH OF POE (Edgar Allan Poe), DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE (Jekyll/Hyde), &COLD HARBOR (Roger).
Television credits include: ARMED ROBBERY ORGASM (as Ron–Channel Four, London), & IN THE GRIP OF EVIL (as Father Hughes–Discovery Channel)among many others.
During his career he has acted in, or directed, over seventy plays professionally. Redfield has founded two successful theater companies; Industrial Strength Theater and New Century Theater, respectively, and has toured internationally. He received training in theater and film from Towson University, UNESCO’s Theatre Of Nation’s University, and The Actor’s Conservatory. His first novel, THE CHANEY MURDER CASE, will be published in 2015. He publishes and edits POE FOREVERMORE MAGAZINE(2011-present). Member of Equity & SAG-AFTRA. He makes his home on sets all over the world, but collects his mail in Los Angeles and Baltimore.